Multi-component dental whitening compositions

Abstract

A two-component tooth whitening system containing a bleaching gel and an activating gel, including that the system has both thermo- and foaming-stability for non-refrigerated storage. The admixing of the two components provides effective whitening and proper bubbling that enables oxygen and free radicals released to diffuse into tooth enamel, and thus, provides significant whitening efficacy.

We claim herein: 
     
         1 . A multi-component dental bleaching system comprising: a dental bleaching composition comprising a dental bleaching gel and a dental activator gel, wherein the dental bleaching gel comprises at least one peroxide, at least one bleaching agent stabilizer, at least one thickening agent and at least one foam stabilizer, and wherein the dental activator gel comprises a transition metal complex, at least one complex stabilizer, and optionally a flavorant. 
     
     
         2 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one peroxide is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, urea peroxide, perborate, peroxyacetic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bleaching agent stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of a chelator, a tin salt, an alkali stannate, a phosphate, a pyrophosphate, a phosphoric acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), wherein said PEO has a molecular weight greater than about 10,000; polyvinyl oxide (PVP); a copolymer of PEO and polypropylene oxide (PPO); and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the bleaching gel further comprises a humectant selected from glycerin, liquid polyethylene glycol (PEG), liquid polypropylene glycol, propylene glycol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the foam stabilizer comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least on colloidal silica. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 6 , wherein the transition metal of said complex is selected from water-soluble manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper salts complexed with EDTA salts. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 7 , wherein the complex comprises transition metal-gluconate salt. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the complex stabilizer is selected from the group of non-ionic polymer surfactant, polyethylene glycol (PEG), wherein the PEG has molecular weight greater than about 2000 Da; polyvinyl alcohol; polyoxyethylene-polypropylene block copolymer; and PVP. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the dental bleaching system is in the form of a kit that includes the bleaching gel in a first part and the dental activator gel in a second part. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 10 , wherein the kit includes at least one duel compartment syringe containing the dental bleaching gel in a first compartment and the dental activator gel in a second compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the dental bleaching gel is mixed with the dental activator gel in a ratio from about 1:1 to about 5:1. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the dental bleaching gel is stable to both heat and foaming for up to 12 months at room temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the dental activator gel is stable in consistency and activating efficacy for up to 12 months at room temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-component dental bleaching system of  claim 1 , wherein the dental activator gel has a pH of from about 7.5 to about 8.9, and the multi-component bleaching system has a final pH of about 7.0 to about 8.5. 
     
     
         16 . A method of bleaching a subject's teeth comprising: applying a multi-component dental bleaching system containing: a dental bleaching composition comprising a dental bleaching gel and a dental activator gel, wherein the dental bleaching gel comprises at least one peroxide, at least one bleaching agent stabilizer, at least one thickening agent and at least one foam stabilizer, and wherein the dental activator gel comprises a transition metal complex and at least one complex stabilizer; mixing the dental bleaching gel and the dental activator gel in a ratio from about 1:1 to 5:1; and applying the mixed system to at least a portion of the subject's teeth. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-component bleaching system is applied with a dual-compartment syringe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-component bleaching system is contained in a kit comprising at least one duel compartment syringe containing the dental bleaching gel in a first compartment and the dental activator gel in a second compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dental activator gel has a pH of from about 7.5 to about 8.9, and the multi-component dental bleaching system has a final pH of about 7.0 to about 8.5. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-component bleaching system comprises a flavorant and a humectant.